Victoria Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge

EPPIC Bid For More Youth Mental Health Services

Victor P Taffa

The Victorian Coalition Government is calling on the Commonwealth to co-invest to significantly increase and improve youth-focused mental health services in Victoria.

Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge today said Victoria has submitted a substantial proposal to the Commonwealth as part of their $222.4 Million expansion of the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) initiative.

Victoria is proposing a major federal-state collaboration to establish five new and one expanded EPPIC service for young people aged 15-24 years across the state. The new centres will be based on the EPPIC service model pioneered by former Australian of the Year Professor Pat McGorry and delivered first in Victoria as part of Orygen Youth Health.

Ms. Wooldridge said the Victorian Government’s proposal to the Commonwealth outlines a new vision for providing coordinated, expanded and improved youth mental health services across Victoria.

The government is also seeking matched funding for Victoria’s investment in Orygen’s training and communication program to increase capacity for workforce development and to assist in statewide implementation.

In addition to recurrent investment in youth early psychosis services, Victoria has also committed to provide funding for infrastructure required to support these new services.

The new EPPIC services will be delivered in a partnership of metropolitan public mental health services and specialist mental health services from rural regions in Victoria.

“A Commonwealth commitment to Victoria’s proposed statewide expansion will enable an additional 1,200 young people to be treated each year.” Ms. Wooldridge said.

“As part of the expansion, new collaborations between youth mental health, alcohol and drug, education, community and statutory youth services will ensure coordinated access to the full range of supports this cohort of young people may need.”

“I look forward to working with the Commonwealth to deliver Victoria’s vision for state-wide, equitable access to youth mental health services under the expansion of the EPPIC model.” Ms. Wooldridge said.